Yuppies Pay A Bundle For Joy At Mom-to-be's Power Shower

Yuppies, who have power lunches, wear power suits and work at power houses, would meet, procreate (powerfully) and make power babies, which would be feted at -- you guessed it -- power showers.

The baby shower of our mothers' day apparently has gone the way of the nuclear family. No longer do a few gals gather at someone's house for tea and the exchange of a few essential gifts -- receiving blankets, pacifiers and bottle warmers.

Today gals, and sometimes guys, attend catered luncheons and dinners with ice sculptures and champagne, and buy gifts from chichi boutiques where mothers, just like brides, have gift registries.

''We treat a baby shower just like a wedding,'' said Linda McCue, manager of the Stork's Nest in Casselberry. ''We go through the store with the girls and literally select the gifts they would like.''

Those gifts generally are anything but modest. It is not uncommon for shower attendees to purchase big items -- playpens, strollers and car seats -- that yesteryear's new mothers received as hand-me-downs.

''When my kids were born 10 years ago, you got everyday hooded towels, slippers, kimonos, all the little things you need,'' said McCue. ''But then showers used to be housewives getting together over a coffee klatch. Everything's gotten more organized and people give more thought to planning today.''

That planning often includes knowing in advance the gender of one's offspring. It also frequently includes more than a little thought given to the child's environment.

''Most mothers are becoming very conscious about color systems and how they will be related to child development, in terms of stimulating or soothing the baby,'' said Wendy Hwang, manager of Baby Heaven to Seven in Altamonte Springs. ''They also are conscious about how things can be washed. . . . Everything's washable and soft.''

Hwang still carries plastic, less expensive items, but they tend to gather dust, she said.

''The plastic items don't move. It's very interesting.''

That mothers-to-be are treating their unborns to the better things in life is not surprising in light of trends that include older first-time parents and two-income families. There is simply more money to spend.

''Let's face it, when you're young you don't have any money and your friends don't have any money,'' said Liz Sheppard, owner of be'be's, a children's store on Winter Park's Park Avenue.

''But when older people are having the babies, they're in a better position to afford the better things in life.''

At a recent shower for a Winter Park woman, 50 women were invited to a seated, catered dinner in Church Street Station's Parlor Room. The meal consisted of salad, Chateaubriand, mousse, wine and an open bar. The honoree, who asked that her name not be used, received thousands of dollars worth of gifts, including an entire layette, a bassinet, stroller, ''everything imaginable.''

Mary Ann Jordan, a sales clerk in the baby department at Jacobson's in Winter Park, said she has about 100 mothers-to-be on her register. Most of her patrons choose gifts beginning at $30.

''It seems you almost have to spend $20 to $30,'' said Jordan. ''They feel that is barely respectable.''

A $20 blanket and toy is almost unheard of, said Jordan. ''They're ashamed to give that little.''

Some of the most popular gift items include comforters and quilts that run between $60 and $175 and designer rompers beginning at $45. The most popular outfit at Jacobson's, says Jordan, is a Guess one-piece denim romper suit for 9 through 24 months. It's a mere $95.

And then there's the sterling silver rattle or knife-and-spoon set, each for $65.

Jordan, whose children are ages 20 and 22, is a little mystified by the amount of money people invest in clothing for infants who grow faster than kudzu. But it's okay by her.

''I think it's wonderful,'' Jordan said. ''The child's going to wear it one month, but if they've got the money more power to them. It's paying my salary.''